Another Windows 10 update horror story

    Despite assurances that the update bugs were fixed, when I shut down Wednesday night after the Virtual Campfire, I was updated by windows.  Yesterday when I fired up, all I got was a back lit screen, no curser, no ability to type, and no option other than hard boot.  I ran diagnostics from both Microsoft and the laptop's maker HP, plus tried a number of steps suggested by my SIL who is an IT specialist.  Ultimately, I was instructed to re-install W10, and then the fun has begun, and continues. 
      I know it is when not if your system fails, and that I was remiss in not having a full backup, but I didn't, and the recovery program that gave me access to thousands of deleted files going back over the years I have owned the computer, I lost mostly program files like Office, my Tax preparation program, but the irreplaceable files like pictures remained on the hard drive.
      What is driving me crazy is that they knew they had problems, said they had them fixed, yet proceeded to roll this out without any warnings.  So far I have spent over a day rebuilding, and am seriously considering paying the money and buying a MAC.  Frustrated, but moving on, hope you can learn from my problems, BACKUP!

Ed

Sorry to hear about your troubles Ed. Windows really sucks. I have been using Chromebooks for the last six years and every once in a while I pull out my Windows laptop to do something I can't do with a Chromebook (it has no DVD drive so if I want to burn a DVD I have no other options). Every time I use Windows all I do is cuss at it for being so darn stupid and such a resource hog. It is heavenly knowing everything is backed up to the cloud and I can't loose anything. I remember for many years spending the first Sunday of every month burning dozens of CDs or DVDs backing up my system. I don't miss defragging, and all the other things I was forced to do in Windows World. And I don't miss paying the Windows tax every year when I buy a new laptop.

My sympathy!  My Pro 3 bricked about three weeks ago. I have backups, but like you lost the software. I bought three Samsung tablets ($600 total) and transferred the critical data to them via email from Tara's old windows tablet (haven't figured out how to read a thumb drive on the tablets yet).

The result? Tara is in heaven!  Tablets are faster than the Pro tablets and no more Windows 8.1 (my mistake there). We can drive the new printer now. Adding 32gig of replaceable storage is $9.95. The full range of her word games is available and abbreviated, but useable, versions of Excel, Word, etc. are included free! It took a while but I have figured out how to accomplish my bookkeeping (Excel) and other usual programs. We'll have to see about tax programs, but otherwise we're covered.

Ernie

    So, I spent an hour and a half with Windows support out of India this afternoon.  They did find the Office 360 files, but they were corrupted.  They flatly refused to replace what they had stolen from me, so I spoke to a supervisor.  Since I really only use Office to open or attach text files to/from emails, he downloaded a program called Apache Open Office, and I must say that it looks very similar to Office 360.
    Next step is do I disable automatic downloads to Windows 10?  Any suggestions! 

Ed

"Next step is do I disable automatic downloads to Windows 10? "

Good luck with that!!! Microsoft has done everything they can think of to prevent you from blocking updates. Checking a couple of these items may help but does NOT prevent updates:

: Make your internet connection a 'metered connection" whether it is nor not. **
https://www.howtogeek.com/226722/HOW-WHEN-AND-WHY-TO-SET-A-CONNECTION-AS-METERED-ON-WINDOWS-10/

** unable to get this working here even using Regedit but YMMV. My menus don't even have the same titles as many of these articles suggest either on my desktop or WIFI equipped portable.


: Check here Settings/Advanced/Update Options: OFF

None of this will prevent updates but may help you control surprises. A  Google search on 'Windows automatic updates' will reveal a lot of info of the subject.

It's possible to change a bit in the registry entry that tells Windows that the WiFi is a charged-for device, and you can do the same for the ethernet port. This enables you to turn off updates over those ports, but Windows will still bug you to do updates. Telling it "not now" keeps them away for a little while.

Changing the registry is a touchy operation, so be sure you know what you are doing. An internet search can find the bit needed (I've long since forgotten).

Edit: Oops -- didn't thoroughly read Alfa's post. That "metered" connection is what I was talking about, but it does work for me.

Allegedly they have now fixed their "issue" that was causing the updates to remove or hide folders on the updated PC. My laptop updated a few days ago and so far so good, but my windows tablet that I use for running  my VMSpc program was screwed up by a previous download. The download removed the driver for the USB port, and the only way I could get it back was to go into the reset program and roll back the install. Now I have it set to a metered connection, and so far it has not updated again.

I hate updates as much as the next person. Getting the updates help keep you safe from cyber attacks and hackers. My iphone and home computer are constantly getting updates. What I hate is they change the way things operate, and I have to relearn how to do things. I used to stop the updates, but was told by a computer guy that I should allow the updates. If they know about a certain scam, or cyber attack, they will address it in an update. Not getting the updates make you more prone to getting hacked.

    Well Guy, I am into day 4 and still finding missing files/folders/apps.  I don't think a virus would have created that much trouble.  Effectively it was ransomware with no ability to buy back my computer.  I accused them of stealing much of my software, and they did not deny it, and they would not even replace the old Microsoft Office.  Next time a MAC.

Ed

How many GB USB flash drive do I need to have to do a system backup on my W-10 system laptop ?  Dick nvrver

In the old days, places dealing with really sensitive stuff used to run two computers, a so-called 'white' computer and a 'black' computer.  The white computer would be hooked up to a network and the black computer would be stand alone.

I suppose you could get a cheap Chromebook, or something like that, and use it only for email and accessing the Internet.  Your REAL computer would contain all your working programs and data files.  It would never get updated, and would never get exposed to malware.    You could even use an old Windows 7 machine if it ran the programs you need ed to run. If you absolutely needed to move files from the 'white' machine to the 'black', or vice-versa, you could use USB drives (as a substitute for the old floppy drive 'sneakernets').  Just being sure to thoroughly scan the files for malware before the transfer.

Hfx_Cdn said:

    Well Guy, I am into day 4 and still finding missing files/folders/apps.  I don't think a virus would have created that much trouble.  Effectively it was ransomware with no ability to buy back my computer.  I accused them of stealing much of my software, and they did not deny it, and they would not even replace the old Microsoft Office.  Next time a MAC.

Ed

Click to expand...

sorry you got bent over by microsoft.. it seems like their normal policy these days..

for my personal desktop machine i run two drives, the first is the OS drive and the second is the data drive
if the OS bails then it's an easy fix to restore matters. a laptop is a different story and data is best saved or synced on an external drive. I havn't run windows for many years now, i'm a solaris and linux guy, my problems ceased ( coincidentally ) at that time.

so yes, BACKUP your data frequently...

A little late getting into this discussion, just found it... Sorry for your Data Loss, Ed... It sounds to me like your initial problem may have been a hard drive failure affecting your boot sector. A system restore should have been able to back out any recent update had it been simply a software issue (IMO). And as you stated, having a backup would have been the key. I recommend to my clients that they run a system image periodically to take a snapshot of the hard drive which will include the OS, all the programs and data files at the time of the backup. Windows 7 used to have a program for doing this but it no longer works in Win10. I use a product called Macrium. Its free for home users and is quite easy to use. It will create an image file of your primary drive partitions. I recommend saving this file to an external hard drive. When needed, you simply put in a new hard drive and install the image and you're good to go... programs and all. Having a dual drive setup as Solarman suggests would be ideal as you could isolate just the OS and program files, reducing the run time of the backup.

(opinion) All computers can have issues, hardware and software alike... Each OS has its advantages and its short comings... I use them all, although admittedly I don't own a Chromebook.  Windows is amazingly powerful and with enormous functionality. MACs are awesome for graphic arts and audio applications. Linux is Free and open sourced. The latter two aren't necessarily for everyone, though, unless you have the patience for the learning curve.

    It really is the gift that keep on giving.  I've spent hours trying to get by a request to duplex print jobs on any printing of more than 1 page.  To add insult to injury, when I phoned Brother Support i did not notice that I was really calling one of those offshore you've got a problem phone sites.  They advised me in a thick east Indian accent that I had a virus and they would fix it for $100.  I thanked them and hung up.  A quick scan of Malwarebytes came up clean, so I downloaded the drivers from the Brother site, still had a problem, but with their actual support online chat, I discovered that the new driver must have defaulted to double side printing, a quick uncheck and it seems to be running smoothly.  But replacing bookmarks, passwords and programs is not fun.

Ed